Preston Zimmerman and SV Darmstadt wound up on the losing end in a close contest to 3rd place FC Heidenheim in 3. Bundesliga action on Saturday.

FC Heidenheim 2 - 1 SV Darmstadt 98

Zimmerman made his third consecutive start for head coach Kosta Runjaic in the Darmstadt attack and played the entire 90 alongside German striker Marcus Steegman. The game, just one of three on the slate, was a make-up match after the original affair was postponed after Pope Benedict's visit three weeks ago.

The game's opening goal fell in the 17th minute, when Heidenheim midfielder and playmaker Andreas Ludwig found striker Nico Frommer in front of goal, who had enough time to gather himself and get off a rocket of a shot that rattled the crossbar on its way into the net for the early 1-0 lead.

In the 50th minute the game really began to get interesting. After the aforementioned Steegman slotted home Benjamin Baier's pass from close range with his right foot for the equalizer, he had to hit the showers just 60 seconds later for a studs-up challenge on Heidenheim's Tim Göhlert. Darmstadt were reduced to ten men and had the momentum after the equalizer sucked out of them.

Heidenheim, however, were a man down themselves after Christian Saunter saw his second yellow card in the 83rd minute for his second bookable offense. Undaunted, Tim Göhlert, who was on the receiving end of Steegman's challenge a mere half an hour earlier, struck in the 89th minute to help his the home team steal all three points as he slid past his marker in front of goal and beat Darmstadt keeper Jan Zimmermann to his near post.

With the loss Darmstadt remain in 16th place with 12 points, just three points above the drop zone. Next week Zimmerman and Darmstadt host Unterhaching on Friday.

NOTES

Amaechi Igwe was an unused substitute as Babelsberg knocked off Carl Zeiss Jena 2-1 on the road. The win lifts Babelsberg up to 14th place with 14 points. Next week, Igwe will hope to get back on the field as they host Werder Bremen II on Saturday.